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Friday, Jun. 18 Many big names headed home Associated Press
PINEHURST, N.C. -- The Masters proved that Greg
Norman's shoulder is strong enough for him to compete with the best golfers in the world. The U.S. Open
showed his head still needs some work.
Although Norman had played sparingly since his third-place finish at The Masters, his level of play during two days in
North Carolina was shockingly inept. He started off with a 73 and hit just two of 18 greens in the second round.
"It was ugly today," Norman said after cleaning out his locker. "It's a bit of a horror story for me right now."
Among the other notables who will get to watch the final two rounds of the tournament on television are Masters
champion Jose Maria Olazabal, two-time Open
champion Ernie Els, Fred Couples, Mark O'Meara, Nick Faldo and Jack Nicklaus, making his 43rd consecutive Open
appearance.
Norman, who played only three tournaments in 1988 before undergoing shoulder surgery, came through with a stirring
performance at Augusta National in early April. He was tied for the lead with five holes remaining before fading to
three shots behind Olazabal.
The Australian had played only three tournaments since The Masters for a top finish of 68th. It was hardly the kind
of preparation he needed for the challenging conditions at Pinehurst.
"It's not really a physical thing for me," said Norman, a cumulative 25-over in his last four Open rounds, also missing
the cut in 1997. "I guess I'd like to work on my head a little bit. I need to get fired up about playing again."
The most painful departures belonged to Olazabal, Els, Faldo and Scott
Hoch.
Olazabal angrily punched a hotel wall Thursday night after an opening-round 75, breaking a bone in his right hand. He
was forced to withdraw and will be sidelined up to four weeks.
"I did something I should not have," said Olazabal, who could miss the British Open in July. "Now, I'm paying the
price."
Els, who won the Open in 1994 and '97, made two double-bogeys during a round of 76, but still would have made the
cut with a birdie on one of the last four holes. He missed a 25-foot putt at
16, an 18-footer at 17 and a 10-footer at 18 after a sparkling second shot, his knees buckling as the ball slid by the
cup.
Asked how disappointed he was, Els replied, "I can't even explain it."
Hoch had an 8-foot par putt on the final hole, needing to make it to remain at 7-over and ensure his return Saturday.
The ball lipped the right side of the cup, spun entirely around the edge and
came to rest about an inch away.
Hoch tapped in for bogey and went home.
O'Meara, who won The Masters and British Open last year, missed the cut at the Open for the first time in four
years, though it's hardly one of his favorite tournaments. He hasn't finished in the top 10 since tying for third in 1988.
Defending Open champion Lee Janzen, who struggled to rounds
of 74 and 73, narrowly made the cut because he is within 10 shots of leaders Payne Stewart, David Duval and Phil Mickelson.
"It's going to take a great effort tomorrow to get back in the hunt, and another one on Sunday," Janzen said. "But if
you make the cut, it's possible."
No such comeback is possible for players like Lee Westwood,
who finished sixth at The Masters but slumped to a 9-over 149 in the Open.
Looking relieved when it was over, he was asked to name the toughest holes on the Donald Ross-designed course.
"All 18 of them," he said with a sigh. |
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